Sexual behaviours and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among MSM during the first COVID-19 lockdown.

Background: The social distancing measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic had far reaching effects on sexual behavior worldwide. However, it remains unclear whether sexual contact with non-steady partners was a contributor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to (i) describe risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity after the first pandemic wave among people using HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Zurich, Switzerland, including sexual contact with non-steady partners, and (ii) assess whether the SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among PrEP users in this time period differed from that of a demographic matched population level comparison group.

Travel to malaria-endemic areas: using digital geo-location to assess potential exposure risks and health behaviours.

Background: Travellers frequently visit popular destinations like Brazil, India, Peru, Thailand, and Tanzania, each presenting varying malaria risks. The extent to which travellers enter high-risk malaria-endemic areas in destinations with heterogeneous malaria risk remains unclear. We used geo-location via smartphone application to (i) describe where travellers go within countries with heterogeneous malaria risk (Brazil, India, Peru, Thailand), and (ii) compare mosquito bite prevention behaviours between these destinations and Tanzania, considered entirely high-risk for malaria.

Applying the photovoice method with adolescents in mining areas in rural Mozambique: critical reflections and lessons learned.

There is a recognised need for innovative methods to elicit the perspective of adolescents on public health issues, particularly when addressing sensitive topics such as the impact of mining projects on their health. Participatory approaches such as "photovoice" allow for deep engagement of vulnerable and marginalised populations, including adolescents. However, few existing studies have used the photovoice method to reflect on issues related to the environment and its impact on public health.

Antibiotic point prevalence survey and antimicrobial resistance in hospitalized patients across Peruvian reference hospitals.

Background: Peru reports higher levels than other countries in Latin America of resistance to antimicrobials among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, however data on antibiotic use in Peru are scarce. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and quality of antibiotic prescription in hospitalized patients and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility rates of bacteria causing key bacterial infections.

Methods: We carried out a point prevalence survey of antibiotic prescription at ten public hospitals in nine regions of Peru.

The Ready-To-Go Questionnaire predicts health outcomes during travel: a smartphone application-based analysis.

Background: The Ready-To-Go (R2G) Questionnaire is a tool for rapid assessment of health risks for travel consultation. This study aims to assess the utility of the R2G Questionnaire in identifying high-risk travellers and predicting health events and behaviour during travel in the TOURIST2 prospective cohort.

Methods: TOURIST2 data were used to calculate the R2G medical and travel risk scores and categorize each participant based on their risk.

How do disease control measures impact spatial predictions of schistosomiasis and hookworm? The example of predicting school-based prevalence before and after preventive chemotherapy in Ghana.

Background: Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections are among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting primarily marginalized communities in low- and middle-income countries. Surveillance data for NTDs are typically sparse, and hence, geospatial predictive modeling based on remotely sensed (RS) environmental data is widely used to characterize disease transmission and treatment needs. However, as large-scale preventive chemotherapy has become a widespread practice, resulting in reduced prevalence and intensity of infection, the validity and relevance of these models should be re-assessed.

A roadmap for using DHIS2 data to track progress in key health indicators in the Global South: experience from sub-saharan Africa.

High quality health data as collected by health management information systems (HMIS) is an important building block of national health systems. District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) software is an innovation in data management and monitoring for strengthening HMIS that has been widely implemented in low and middle-income countries in the last decade. However, analysts and decision-makers still face significant challenges in fully utilizing the capabilities of DHIS2 data to pursue national and international health agendas.

Industrial mining and HIV risk: evidence from 39 mine openings across 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of natural resource extraction projects on HIV transmission risks in local communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design: Difference-in-differences design using repeated cross-sectional data from around newly opened mines.

Methods: We combined data on mine openings with HIV data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS).

Fibronectin extra domain A as a drug delivery targeting epitope for rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To assess the ability of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for fibronectin extra-domain A (FnEDA) to target diseased tissues of mouse collagen induced arthritis (mCIA) models. To explore the parameters of the targeting exhibited by anti-FnEDA mAbs including timing and location.

Methods: Targeting capabilities of anti-FnEDA mAbs were demonstrated by biodistribution study where i.

Illness tracking in SARS-CoV-2 tested persons using a smartphone app: a non-interventional, prospective, cohort study.

There are few data on the range and severity of symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection or the impact on life quality in infected, previously healthy, young adults such as Swiss Armed Forces personnel. It is also unclear if an app can be used to remotely monitor symptoms in persons who test positive. Using a smartphone app called ITITP (Illness Tracking in Tested Persons) and weekly pop-up questionnaires, we aimed to evaluate the spectrum, duration, and impact of symptoms reported after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test according to sex, age, location, and comorbidities, and to compare these to responses from persons who tested negative.

Travel behaviours and health outcomes during travel: Profiling destination-specific risks in a prospective mHealth cohort of Swiss travellers.

Background: We used a mobile application to determine the incidence of health events and risk behaviours during travel by country and identify which health risks are significantly elevated during travel compared with at home.

Method: TOURIST2 is a prospective cohort study of 1000 adult travellers from Switzerland to Thailand, India, China, Tanzania, Brazil and Peru, planning travel of ≤4 weeks between 09/2017 and 04/2019. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) in each country was calculated.

Long-Term Neurological and Psychological Distress Symptoms among Smallholder Farmers in Costa Rica with a History of Acute Pesticide Poisoning.

Studies suggest that acute pesticide poisonings (APP) may be linked with long-term neurological effects. To examine long-term neurological and psychological distress symptoms associated with having experienced an APP, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 300 conventional and organic smallholder farmers from Zarcero County, Costa Rica, May-August 2016. We collected self-reported data on sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, pesticide exposure, APPs, neurological and psychological distress symptoms (using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)).

What agro-input dealers know, sell and say to smallholder farmers about pesticides: a mystery shopping and KAP analysis in Uganda.

Background: Pesticides can have negative effects on human and environmental health, especially when not handled as intended. In many countries, agro-input dealers sell pesticides to smallholder farmers and are supposed to provide recommendations on application and handling. This study investigates the role of agro-input dealers in transmitting safety information from chemical manufacturers to smallholder farmers, assesses the safety of their shops, what products they sell, and how agro-input dealers abide by laws and recommendations on best practices for preventing pesticide risk situations.

Health of Farming Communities Prior to Modification of the Occupational Environment through a Watershed Development Project in Kolar, India.

Background: Watershed development (WSD) projects, aimed primarily at enhancing soil and water conservation and supporting livelihoods in semi-arid areas, have the potential to impact health by modifying the occupational and household environments in agrarian communities. To identify and address potential health concerns arising from a planned WSD project in Kolar district, India, a health impact assessment (HIA) was conducted. This necessitated understanding the health status and concerns in the project villages.

Association of Livestock Ownership and Household Dietary Quality: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey from Rural India.

Studies from India and several eastern African countries found that the impact of dairy animal ownership on household nutrition varied greatly, depending on the socio-geographic context. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between livestock ownership and household dietary quality in rural Kolar district, India. We collected data from a household survey in four study villages ( = all 195 households of the four villages) of Kolar district, applying a cross-sectional design.

Associations between Natural Resource Extraction and Incidence of Acute and Chronic Health Conditions: Evidence from Tanzania.

Natural resource extraction projects are often accompanied by complex environmental and social-ecological changes. In this paper, we evaluated the association between commodity extraction and the incidence of diseases. We retrieved council (district)-level outpatient data from all public and private health facilities from the District Health Information System (DHIS2).

Impact of mining projects on water and sanitation infrastructures and associated child health outcomes: a multi-country analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Access to improved water and sanitation infrastructures are key determinants of health. The sub-Saharan African region in particular is lagging behind the ambitious goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure universal access to improved and reliable water and sanitation for all (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6). Large mining projects can promote economic growth and hence investments in water and sanitation infrastructures, but at the same time lead to rapid population growth and environmental degradation.

Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries.

Industrial mining projects can play an important role in global sustainable development if associated health risks are minimised and opportunities maximised. While a broad body of evidence from quantitative studies exists that establishes the interlinkages between mining operations and effects on public health, little research has been conducted investigating health impacts from the perspective of affected communities. This is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa, where about a third of the remaining global mineral resources are endowed and health-related indicators for sustainable development are lagging behind.

Short-term effects of national-level natural resource rents on life expectancy: A cross-country panel data analysis.

While a substantial amount of literature addresses the relationship between natural resources and economic growth, relatively little is known regarding the relationship between natural resource endowment and health at the population level. We construct a 5-year cross-country panel to assess the impact of natural resource rents on changes in life expectancy at birth as a proxy indicator for population health during the period 1970-2015. To estimate the causal effects of interest, we use global commodity prices as instrumental variables for natural resource rent incomes in two-stage-least squares regressions.

Water and health in mining settings in sub-Saharan Africa: A mixed methods geospatial visualization.

Industrial mining transforms local landscapes, including important health determinants like clean water and sanitation. In this paper, we combined macro-level quantitative and micro-level qualitative data to show how mining projects affect water infrastructures and ultimately the health of affected communities. Although we observed a positive trend of water infrastructure in mining settings, surrounding communities are also characterized by water scarcity and degradation of water quality.

Exposure to multiple pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes among smallholder farmers in Uganda.

Background: Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to single pesticide active ingredients or chemical groups is associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in farmers. In agriculture, exposure to multiple pesticide active ingredients is the rule, rather than exception. Therefore, occupational studies on neurobehavioral effects of pesticides should account for potential co-exposure confounding.

How to bring research evidence into policy? Synthesizing strategies of five research projects in low-and middle-income countries.

Background: Addressing the uptake of research findings into policy-making is increasingly important for researchers who ultimately seek to contribute to improved health outcomes. The aims of the Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development (r4d Programme) initiated by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation are to create and disseminate knowledge that supports policy changes in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This paper reports on five r4d research projects and shows how researchers engage with various stakeholders, including policy-makers, in order to assure uptake of the research results.

Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Use Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers From Costa Rica and Uganda.

Pesticides are used globally in agriculture and pose a threat to the health of farmers, communities, and the environment. Smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries have generally a low socio-economic status and educational level. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts of pesticides on their health, yields, or land.